Attention all funky breakbeat heads! The Danish independent label AuditoryDesigns is proud to present the full-length debut Break the Funk by BadboE. We have listened to his groovy tracks over and over at the office and cannot seem to get enough. This crispy breakbeat bomb is meant to kick some flavour to the floor and we are sure that a lot of DJs will find BadboE's touch on the genre refreshing. Break the Funk consists of 15 original tracks with plenty of sampling, scratches, good beats and a praised remix of Dynamite made by All Good Funk Alliance (AGFA). BadboE gets his inspiration from late 60's and 70's funky productions like other breakbeat artists, and has refined it all in his mix with 80's vocals and hooks. On "Funky Medley" MC Sens One is guest performing and Linn Lavinsky from Phat Old Mamas (has worked with Marc Collin from Nouvelle Vagues) is spicing "Spread the Words" up, with her highly addictive and sensual voice. BadboE has already released numerous EPs among them Loose your Funky Self and most recently Dynamite also on AuditoryDesigns, both received good responses from funk DJs all over the world, both title tracks are included on Break the Funk. BadboE proves that you do not need to be born American to make some heavy funk-influenced catchy tunes. With the approach of bringing UK-style breaks in combination with soulful vocal samples and elements from the Danish hip-hop heritage, he has his own distinctive sound. At AuditoryDesigns we are not afraid to say that BadboE is one of the most interesting musicians at the funky part of the Scandinavian scene. So tune the ears in at planet Break the Funk, it's partytime!

Who the f_ck is Blockboy? In his recording studio and atelier in an old building flat in Munich, Blockboy regularly descends into spheres of visual art and sound, while swinging between bliss and desperation because of his perfectionism. With attention to detail, the communication designer plays and records all instruments himself, strictly according to the motto: keep it real! To put a label on Blockboy's sound is not easy, since he moves between Ambient, Downbeat, HipHop, TripHop, Dubstep and Turntablism - always enhanced by an affection for detailed samples of vinyl treasures. The vinyl collector's edition of Heartbox is limited to 300 copies.

San Francisco sleaze connoisseurs Anthony Mansfield and Tal M Klein are back with their sixth joint EP under the AM/TM moniker; entitled, appropriately enough, Sleaze Please. If you file this track under nu-disco (or nu-anything for that matter), we will find you and punch you in the perineum. This is Sleaze music, it's dirty and unapologetic and will melt people's faces off. The title track, Sleaze Please, is not a modest number. She will destroy your bassbins and kick you in the nuts. At last count this track features no less than 10 analog synthesizers you've never heard of and drum machines that were invented before you were born. This track is so heavy that when we put it on a scale our phone number showed up. A mystery man who called himself Heisse Scheisse clandestinely delivered a monster remix on reel to reel tape inside a bullet proof suitcase which also contained a latex banana hammock. After billions of dollars of research and vaccines, our detective team found out the man behind the Heisse Scheisse remix was none other than Nick Chacona. When we confronted him with our findings he said, "What the hell were you thinking with that bassline, I fixed your stupid mess and made a better track than the original." He then shot us in the knees with a Desert Eagle .50 and took off in a solar powered jetpack. The other original track on this EP is "U WANT 2" which basically repeats "you want to" until everyone gets naked and crazy. It's delicate like an elephant with rabies on PCP. We recommend this track to people who are tired of playing records that sound like broken records. It's big, it's bad, it'll make you glad.

For their 10th release Manchester based label My First Moth present a collaboration between two visionary artists from opposite sides of the Atlantic. New York born rapper BluRum 13 should need no introduction after lacing countless records from the last decade with his distinctive gravel-voiced flow, most notably the classic Ninja Tune album "Children of Possibility" which he recorded as one-third of One Self alongside DJ Vadim and Yarah Bravo. Producer Frameworks is a relative newcomer although still fiercely prolific, having notched up collaborations with Long Island legends QnC and UK rapper Bang On amongst others. With releases on First Word Records, Hero Records and Organik Recordings, Frameworks is quickly forging a reputation for a solid production technique, fusing old-school sensibilities with a touch of live instrumentation and a keen ear for a killer sample. This 12" features two tracks from the forthcoming Brickbuilders LP along with heavy remix treatments from four distinctly individual producers. First up, MFM's own Neko Neko drops an afro-funk tinged dancefloor bomb not dissimilar to his recent "Trouble in the Streets" 12" which sold out in a matter of weeks. Mixkings' Bunty Beats follows this with some next-level slowmo reversed sampling on a tripped-out atmospheric tip. Flip for some darker leftfield leanings from Danny Drive Thru, fresh from recent outings on Project Mooncircle, Fat City and Mind On Fire Records. And lastly Wah Wah 45s finest Part-Time Heroes wind things up nicely with an epic uptempo cinematic workout reminiscent of some of Bonobo's instrumental productions.

After breaking the ice with The Archive's first single, Squaring The Circle introduces their newest release, again on vinyl. A shiny and well-crafted 12", this is the debut EP from beat making trio 'Spaced Out Family' with the Andalusian record label. These six psychedelic instrumental hip hop tracks take the listener on a cosmic trip with 70's free experimental sounds as the first stop, passing through the golden era of rap breaks and ending in the vanguard of the contemporary abstract electronic beats scene.

As the London & Berlin based somethinksounds imprint approaches a tenth release since its inception in 2010 we've learnt that although you can never be too sure of what they are going to serve up next, you can be sure its going to be of the highest quality. Whether it be unearthing exquisitely produced IDM by Lucky Paul, future house sounds from rising stars such as Eliphino and Ossie (Black Orange Juice) or straight up club bangers by some of the biggest hitters in the game (Gadi Mizrahi of Wolf + Lamb); this time they deliver what could be one of the most infectious vocal drops of 2012 on Artifact's sensational double A-side The Way It Do/We Trapped. For the tenth release somethinksounds step back into a ring where they certainly feel very comfortable and present an artist tipped by many a tastemaker including Clash and also Resident Advisor (in a 'Breaking Through' article earlier this year) to be making big waves soon. With releases on Local Action and Rebirth, Bristol boy Artifact has certainly been making a big noise with his futuristic fusion of house, techno and garage. Put simply The Way It Do is a bold statement of intent. Aimed directly at the centre of the dance floor this one oozes with production finesse far beyond the young producer's years. Skipping tams and snapping snares ride alongside haunting synth melodies whilst the percussion section layers intricately amidst a world of abstract sounds. The tension continues to build until it culminates in a monster vocal drop sure to have people going nuts on the dance floor. Clubbers, you have been warned. It's a double A-side for a reason and therefore the intensity does not let up on the flip with We Trapped providing yet another peak time monster filled with yet more expertly layered, extra terrestrial percussive elements. A tuned rim shot drives the track along throughout but its another very well selected vocal sample which provides the main hook. Hotly tipped Manchester native Damu steps up for remix duties with an interpretation of The Way It Do, delivering an indefinable cut filled with pure analog intensity. Skittering percussion melded flawlessly with bubbling bass lines and otherworldly synth melodies equates to a captivating listen.

Eclectic Music Producer and DJ Marc Mac (from 4hero) returns with another Mixtape Style album following on from 'Extend The Knowledge" & "It's Right To Be Civil". Marc's formula of Boom Bap Beats, Breaks, Jazz and Soul pull together soundbites from the Vietnam War era. Beats are intertwined with soundbites from the 1960's Vietnam War protest era where African American's were sent to fight during the Civil Rights period in the USA.

Haling from Glasgow's East End, Christopher McFarlane has been producing under his Mirrors stagename since the summer of 2011, whilst holding down ongoing involvements with the city's popular 'Offbeat' clubnight. Coincidently set to hit the racks on the eve of his 21stbirthday, Loungin' Recordings present the Glaswegian newcomer's first official EP. Comprised of the original version and 3 vastly different remixes, the West London-based imprint's 30thsingle release brings together 3 principal members of the new roster with a special, and rather unlikely, guest appearance. Signed by Loungin' within hours of label head Chris Belsey hearing it, Mirrors infectious original represents a truly unique production that could loosely be described as waltzer-disco. Backing up the A-side, Paraguayan trio LPZ return with their 3rdproduction for Loungin' by stripping out the original's keys and lifting the stems into 7-minutes of acid-driven house. Over on the flipside, Rotterdam's bruk-step lynchpin C.O.N.E makes his second appearance for the label via a typically dexterous rework that acts as a teaser for his forthcoming EP for Loungin'. Meanwhile, completing the package with something a little different, Tru Thought's dancehall duo Wrong Tom and Deemas J completely overhaul the original, with Deemas laying live vocals over Tom's skanking production.

Following on from the success of BNZ001, Slugabed's new label Activia Benz are releasing their second record, Recolor from Moscow's 813. He is a Russian fireman, and his music is very synth heavy and melodic, as well as very dancefloor.

Souleance are back! Following on from the success of their debut LP 'La Belle Vie' from earlier this year, the French duo have been busy in the studio producing La Beat Tape. 20 tracks deep, the release is aimed squarely at the DJs, with every beat guaranteed to shake the danceflloor. Souleance are producer Fulgeance (Musique Large / MPM) and DJ Soulist (What The Funk Paris?). Since releasing their debut EP (Le Monde) back in 2009, they have built a solid reputation for their idiosyncratic take on modern beats. With fans including Gilles Peterson, Danny Breaks and Mr Thing, their debut album was the culmination of 3 years of beat-making, touring, partying and drinking too much Pimms. Whilst other producers would rest on their laurels after releasing their debut, Souleance got straight back into the studio to produce La Beat Tape - their sole aim to create tracks that they would DJ with themselves. The result is 20 tracks of pure dancefloor fire. This 7" is our pick of the tracks that we think the DJs will love most. It takes in heavy Turkish breaks (Sauce Samorai), Hammond funk (L'insouleance), Just Blaze-style horn-heavy hip hop (Como Estan Bitches) and loose-limbed hip hop funk (BBQ & Pimms). This limited edition 7" containing features artwork by long-term collaborator Alice Dufay: it's sure to join their previous vinyl releases as a genuine collectors item.

Kool Hertz started DJing and rocking crowds over 14 years ago in the South Africa & the UK. The last few years he has turned his hand to production in a big way. After a string of release, across various labels in the scene, we finally welcome his first Ghetto Funk EP. "Loads of attitude, big bottom end and his signature pounding beats. This EP has a true heavy weight feel, it sits and the Ghetto end of the spectrum."

Hoglodytes is the unlikely pairing of UK West Country producers Chubb Nice and Vinyl Peasant with New York rapper Emskee. How did they meet ? really don't ask me - I don't know and I can't imagine but what I do know is that this is some re-wind and start from the beginning righteous 90's hip hop vibes thrown down by some people who clearly love what they do.

Finally! After already two digital releases on BigM Productions, Stereo Beatz now presents his first vinyl 12" EP, packed full with four Stereo Beatz bombs. From Ghetto Funk over Breaker Breats and Breakbeat to Oldskool Breaks, the records contains a great variety of huge slammers for the floor. A peak time choice and must have.

Ladies and Gentlemen. We proudly present: "The Gemini Bros.". With their 12" vinyl single "Trump Skyscrapers", the twins from Bucharest provide a huge show for a debut on BigM Productions. Following their motto "Keep the funk alive", they present a funky, groovy and loungy breaks tune with great remixes by CMC&Silenta, DJ Nixon of Mustbeat Crew and Jon Kennedy & Ewan Hoozami.

After blowing up the reggae mash-up scene with his very first release back in 2006, DJ Shepdog has quickly established himself as a dancefloor connessieur mixing up hip hop, reggae, drum & bass and whatever else fits the bill of "Righteous Party Vibes". Now a firm favourite at festivals such as Glastonbury, Bestival, Big Chill, Outlook and many more, he can also regularly be found playing at clubs across the UK & Europe. Unfortunately many of Shep's early releases are now unavailable on vinyl as they were only every pressed in very limited quantities (some often fetch a handsome price on eBay & Discogs!) so we thought it was time to give them another lease of life on fat wax! "Bigger Than Jamrock" was Shepdog's first ever single and his calling card for future mash-ups that never fail to get a reaction on the dancefloor. Long since deleted it is now made available on vinyl for the first time in 5 years. "Ganja" is a remix that he was commissioned by Rob Da Bank for the Dub Pistols, which has never been issued on vinyl. Over on the flip is a dancehall inspired take on some classic party hip hop that should also get the hands in the air, only ever available on the "Cut Ups, Muck Ups & Bruck Ups" CD. The EP is finished off by something a little bit deeper, using his old mate Jstar's brilliant "One Life riddim" and spicing it up with some timeless NY MCs, again never available on vinyl before now!

Global Bass Vol.3 is full of high quality global music, featuring the newly signed artistSuperpendejos, who with their splendid mixture of cumbia and deep grooves made it to many promenent DJ bags this summer with their track Ya Sta Qi. Silver Bullit with their tracks Koloko and The Meter show their potential on the tropical dancefloor with sounds from Africa and Jamaica mixed with fistfull of funk. Here reworked by Thykier and Superpendejos. Los Chicos Altos is a well known artist on UrbanWorld, their signature sound of afro-latin grooves is a firestarter on any dancefloor. Their tracks Senora Santana and Pa'lante gets them a potition between the absolute best in new latin music. Here together with Idan K and The Movement of Rhythm and Empresarios. Kosta Kostov's fusion beats are always a pleasure, from Balkan to Africa and Brazil, this man got it all. Mambesa is a groovy Kwaito track, and Kaduna Bass, with Dj Chernobyl on the remix, fuses Gnawa with Technobrega. Also featuring are tracks from the swinger Rube in a moombahton remix by Al Lindrum, and the Indonesian band Jalan Surabaya in dub by Dubpitaten.

Featurecast (Lee Mintram to his mum) has an album about to drop with a serious seasoning of top vocalists including Greg Blackman (a mainstay of the album), high flying UK bluesman John Turrell, Hospital Records D&B vocalist of choice Pat Fulgoni, plus Alaska MC, C. Reid, Dynamic and Pugs Atomz dropping urban science whenever and wherever required. Prior to signing to Jalapeno, Featurecast has released on a variety of happening labels like Bomb Strikes, Good Groove and Catskills as well as Funk Weapons in the US and the burgeoning Ghetto Funk label in the UK. One of his early productions was even snapped up by Apple to promote the IPOD - yep those ads with the silhouettes dancing round - that was our boy. His DJ sets are the stuff of legend and he regularly tours North America and Australia where his brand of bass fuelled turntablism is in serious demand.Featurecast has crafted his own unique sound combining amazing pinpoint scratching whilst effortlessly cutting between Funk, Hip-Hop, Breaks, Dubstep and Drum & Bass. He's dazzled the crowds of some of the biggest festivals and venues around the globe withCanada's legendary Shambhala festival being the scene of one of his biggest triumphs. Featurecast has shared productions duties on previous releases with legends of the bass scene like Krafty Kuts and house heavyweight James Zabiela (who credits Lee with teaching him to scratch) as well as remixing everyone from Aretha Franklin to Finley Quaye. Basically his whole life has been building towards this album and now his time has come.

Vienna's Disko404 organisation are launching their very own label with a split EP by Sun People and Franjazzco. While the latter is one of the most passionate players in Vienna's underground music scene, Sun People aka Simon/Off has already stirred international attention with releases on renowned labels such as Immerse Records or Phuture Shock Musik. For this release Franjazzco combined his enthusiasm for jazz, soul and disco with a weighty footwork / juke kit, resulting in three deadly 160BPM anthems. On the flipside Sun People deployed a more UK-influenced style with references to '90s jungle and UK garage ... imagine Tek9 meets Duncan Powell meets DJ Spinn. The EP is already receiving support from DJ Rashad, Distal, DJ Clent, RP Boo, Soulphiction and others, and is just the first of many floor-dominator releases lined up by Disko404. Super-lomited run of 250 copies only.

Having recorded a number of excellent deep, soulful but hard hitting dubstep releases under his DJG monkier, San Francisco's Dean J. Grenier decided to move into fresher pastures this year, announcing his new alias as Grenier. Kicking off with a killer release on Photek Productions early on in 2012 - and not many artists aside from Photek himself can claim a plate on his highly respected imprint - Grenier takes a dark-jungle and classic dubstep inspired perspective on the currently favoured 128bpm / house tempo, and he now delivers a stunning 12" for Tectonic in the process. 'Uncertain' featured on Tectonic label boss Pinch's acclaimed 'Fabriclive' mix earlier this year and has been highly requested ever since. Tough bass stabs punch in the intro before wheeling backwards and slamming into a hard, almost 4/4 rhythm, fully charged with a weighted sub. The track devleops with jazzy references and sonic flashes of musicality, almost reminicent of early Peshay and Metalheadz. It is, by any measure, a killer tune. On the flip, 'Vendetta' sticks again with the 128bpm tempo but takes a heavy dark wobble sound, a-la Skream circa 2006, and moulds it around a stepping 4/4 rhythm. This makes for a simple and effective rhythmical weapon of choice that encapsulates much of what made early dubstep so interesting, reincarnated here at the slower housey tempo.

Champion's Formula Records present the debut EP from its first signee, the prodigiously talented rising star Notion. Having already turned heads recently with the rambunctious 'Icicle', released via Mixmag as a free download, the Hereford-based producer serves up three tracks of unpretentious dancefloor weaponry. Lead track 'Digits' borrows elements of UK Funky with its syncopated drum patterns and quirky key stabs. With plenty of dub-influenced low end and reverb it's clear to see why it's already become a staple in sets from Rinse FM's Roska, Brackles, Marcus Nasty and Seb Chew. 'Soundbwoy Killa' takes no prisoners with an electrifying bassline and sporadic reggae sample drops that are in a similar vein of some of Champion's previous productions. Whilst on the surface the heavy bass is what appears to lead the track, there are subtle percussive elements that add a supremely danceable rhythm and groove. Brutal stomper 'Watch Here' rounds off the trio of tunes with more colourful beats and bass that make this EP a comprehensive foray into the world of 130 BPM dance music, at the same time signalling the entrance of what could be one of its most promising proponents of 2012 thus far.

legendary UK reggae label that launched the careers of artists such as Top Cat, Tenor Fly, General Levy and the late great Smiley Culture, as well as cuts from Jamaican legends such as Cutty Ranks, Daddy Freddy & Frankie Paul amongst many many others, NICE UP! have dug deep into the vaults to find some more lost classics to give them a new lease of life. As a long time fan of the label, NICE UP!s Shepdog hooked up with the owners and managed to secure access to the back catalogue - much of which is being made digitally available for the first time! First up, Serial Killaz pay respect to a scene that helped spawn them by giving Andrew Paul's classic 'Who's Gonna Make The Dance Ram' an updated junglist relick. Retaining the sleng teng vibe of the original, but giving it a 2012 bounce should see plenty of reloads for this track once again. Over on the flip, festival favourites the Dub Pistols rework Pato Banton's 'Nice Up The Session' from the 'Great British MCs' album, giving it a lively drum & bass feel with extra horns and a little help from Rodney P.

After the huge success of their 'Rasta Be Good' and 'I Say Yeah' singles a couple of years back, which saw support from Annie Mac, Rob Da Bank, Norman Jay, as well as a stack of excellent remixes and mashups, Belgium's Turntable Dubbers come correct with a brand new single featuring legendary dancehall MC Top Cat on vocals. As always, it's a killer vocal hook singing the praises of the fine female form, which is complemented by a bumping 4/4 reggae flavoured track produced by Timaxx & Drezz alongside Polish producer Sebski. Remixes come from UK Funky don Warrior One, who is now pushing a new 'future jungle' sound which he showcases perfectly with this old school rave re-rub, complete with uplifting pianos, horns, sirens and just wait for that bass drop! Poland's Dreadsquad has taken the track back in time and supplied a classic ska remix with a very modern edge, replaying the whole riddim track with a full live band for that authentic sound and shuffle. Both are guaranteed to NICE UP! the party on any occasion!

Leisure System, the collective, label and famed Berghain club night of four years standing, is back with their third release from co-founder and resident, Sam Barker. Known for its genre-defiant lineups, Leisure System's quarterly residency has consistently brought together artists with varying styles. Flying Lotus, Autechre, Afrika Hitech, Jackmaster, Surgeon, Jimmy Edgar, Blawan, 808 State, Dopplereffekt, Clark, Machinedrum, Surgeon, Venetian Snares, Objekt and Egyptian Lover have all graced the decks, showing off the collective's commitment to the exploration of new and experimental sounds in EDM. The development of the label, and now this release from Barker, is no exception. After discovering computers and raves in the late '90s, Barker began making tracks at age 13, building up a sizable collection of vintage analogue synths, paving the way for his future solo work and collaborations with artists like Tim Exile, Clark, Shitmat, Scotch Egg, The Field, Leafcutter John and Jimmy Edgar. Shortly after his 2007 move to Berlin, Barker began collaborating with fellow Berghain resident nd_baumecker, resulting in their ongoing project Barker & Baumecker. Their first EP 'Candyflip', was released on Ostgut Ton in 2010, followed up by a live show tour throughout Europe. The duo is currently readying their second EP and have a long player due out in August 2012. For this new solo EP, mastered by electronic music legend Pole, Barker presents a creative three-track lesson in diversity and highlights Leisure System's ever-evolving aural curiosity. The opener and title track 'Like An Animal' is a number that builds and builds, quickly changing course and mutating into a percussive and texturized melting pot of sounds. Up next the hypnotic 'I Feel', which is filled with moody pads and syncopated breakbeat rhythms, paving the way for the mechanical, yet smooth half-step rhythm of 'Hot Lover'. Siimilar to the collective, this offering pushes boundaries and mirrors the progressive ideals of the collective. Just like Leisure System's first two 12"s from Pixelord and Eprom in 2011, Barker's 'Like An Animal' EP is a clear statement of the label's simple and distinct commitment : to be a platform for timeless, thrilling and soulful dance music in the fields of house, techno and electronica, disregarding media hype and genre borders. In keeping with this clear sonic manifesto, Leisure System's design aesthetic is equally individual, with all vinyl releases housed in deluxe die-cut jackets.

Young Adults is a new housier-flavoured label started by the good folks behind Friends Of Friends. As part of a growingly endangered breed of all vinyl musicologists, L.A.'s Young Adults opt to let the records play in this digital age of instant gratification. The first installment in their commitment to pressed wax platters culls a collection of spectrum exploring body music from cohorts both near and far. Starting off the festivities is the golden child, Suzanne Kraft, whose feel-good stunner 'Jus U' exemplifies why Running Back was oh so eager to add his talents to their ever impressive roster. The sunsoaked strut that shimmers on this sampler track is just a teaser of things to come on Lil Suzie's forthcoming 12" EP for YA later in the summer. Next up is The Dead Rose Music Company with a shimmering study in repetition that only adds to their laureled cloud of mystique. A driving pulse and infectious vocal snippet assure that 'Soothe My Mind' soars in both headphone and floor-tested settings. On the flip, Urulu brings down the lights and cranks up the diva on a soul-studded banger that burrows its way into the deepest psyche caverns. 'Missing You' balances grit with a glossed-out sheen personified by loopy lipstick signatures on rusted bathroom mirrors. Rounding out the affair is a dank and dirty collab between up-and-comers Grown Folk and LOL Boys. 'Ghost Path' exists deep in the acidic bowels of the night and guides its followers through uncharted terrains without a flashlight. Make sure to buckle up.

Irish producer Colm K returns to Bastard Boots after 'Dancing Skulls', his big tune on the label in 2010. This time, Colm dives into the world of lush beat production with a sampling of some unlikely sources. On the A side, 'Slipping (Into Tomorrow)' builds itself around a classic Steve Miller Band vocal snippit with deep hip hop drums and live bass playing that would make Thundercat proud. On the flip, 'Go!' is a deft chop on 'The Look Of Love'

If you think the title of this DVD sounds like a struggling foreigner's attempt to describe his trip to New York during the formative years of a cultural revolution, you would be spot on. Filmed in New York City in 1986, 'Big Fun In The Big Town' chronicles the emerging hip hop culture through the lens of an upstart Dutch filmmaker named Bram Van Splunteren. Armed with nothing more than a camera crew and vague understanding of English, Van Splunteren's fearless excursion led him to the gritty landscapes of Harlem, South Bronx, and the Lower East Side during the peak years of the 1980s crack epidemic, a backdrop which proved to be the incubator for a breeding ground for hip hop pioneers. Bram happened to be in the right place at the right time. Putting his own personal safety at risk, he travelled to remote locations in neighbourhoods where no outsiders were normally allowed, capturing the essence of that time and place, while also managing to get interviews with and footage of rap heavyweights and emerging artists, many of whom now refered to as legends. The amazing scenes include a 17 year old LL Cool J greeting the crew from the doorstep of his grandmother's apartment (where he still lived), Chicago's Mystery Crew trying to snag a meeting with Russell Simmons outside the small offices of Def Jam on the same day Van Splunteren happened to be interviewing him, DMC freestyling to an unreleased beat on the cassette deck of his brand new and first Cadillac, and a still skinny Biz Markie beatboxing for Roxanne Shante on stage. Released for the first time ever in a physical format, 'Big Fun In The Big Town' is a must-see, must-own for any true rap historian, and a window into a time and place many of us can now only learn about through study. Travel back to where it all began and relive the inspiring struggle of hip hop music all over again. Running Time : 41:28. Region-Free DVD.

After Gerry Read's opening effort for the new house music aligned Delsin series, Soul 223 aka Steve Pickton steps up. Productions under this alias are few and far between for Pickton, but the man himself has been producing melodic, Detroit inspired sounds since the mid '90s, most often as Stasis on labels like Peacefrog and Mo Wax. A keen sense of melodic colour also characterises the four cuts that make up this EP, with the first, 'Almost Like It Used To Be' pairing radiant pads with a lolloping house beat and plenty of melted synth sounds. Next up, 'Arties Mood' slows to a Moodymann styled pace, layering percussive samples, keys and jazzy motifs onto of a lazy house beat to conjure a perfect sunny afternoon vibe. 'Heartstrings' is alive with the sound of the cosmos as it rolls on through organic sounding bongos, sharper claps and plenty of neon lines. Closing track 'Essex' has a gummy, gritty bottom end sweetened by more glistening melodies and key work, all the while chugging along at a most inviting deep house pace. This is mature, jazz flecked house music for the more considered moments of the day.

Fur, born Bryce Isbell in Texas, extracts minutiae with precision. His compositions, while airily sparse, are saturated with details plucked from broad landscapes, whether they resemble the Texan prairie or the expanses of industrial Germany. Isbell's composite micro-samples are infinitesimal, soaked in breathless allusion and divorced from their context. The crisp, insistently percussive arrangements oscillate like metal shavings manipulated by an unseen magnet. Fur has untraditionally tapped into a European techno mind-meld, a Berlin thought-stream. After his early work with Neon Indian's Alan Palomo as Ghost Hustler, Isbell dove deep into the minimal sounds that transported listeners closer to inner city Detroit than the mid-west. Uno's first Fur EP 'Cocoon' follows several years of Isbell silence. After a notable debut with Lefse, Fur submerged below a sea of techno and came up with a deep analog style that's acquired fans in Fred P and Firecracker Records with twisting house like 'Knots'. With a second part in the Fur saga on the way, Uno has faith this young westerner will be putting a big Texan stamp on the house scene to come. The Fred P reshape of 'Cocoon' will be Download Of The Week on Little White Earbuds prior to release, and the video will premier on Pitchfork soon after.

This is the first release on a new label that has emerged from the Bass Heavy Funk Scene. This time its all about the original material made by the biggest artists around and featuring the best vocalists. First up with have the huge Clean Air, co produced by Canadian Ghetto-Funk-King Stickybuds and reggae favourite Mista Savona. It features the amazing vocal talent of jamaican reggae supremo Burro Banton. Included in this release is a dub mix, for those kick-back sessions, as well as the rather full on club banger that is the main vocal mix. hucked into the mix are instrumentals of both to really give this package everything you could require.

Breakin Bread drop the second single from Japanese producer Kazahaya who's been working with US MC's. Proper boom bap music on both sides, uptempo dancefloor craziness on one side, midtempo bumping gear on the flip.

Kazahaya hails from Tokyo, Japan and has been pushing his own brand of mash ups and mix CD's for the last few years. In 2007 he sent a demo to Breakin Bread and the resulting EP "Remember Hip Hop" became a bestselling hip hop release of that year. Because it was a mashup with loads of famous MC's on it Breakin Bread had to pull it from release! Since then Kaza has been getting mad props for his beats so he decided to work with some US MC's and this series of 7"s is the result.

A - Sounds of The City feat D-Stroy

One for the b-boys and b-girls. D-stroy rips it over an uptempo beat designed with the dancefloor in mind. The old school references abound but this is a fresh and forward thinking slice of proper hip hop on wax with a chorus to die for.

D-Stroy was born and raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn and he met Tony Touch at school forming a group called Touch and D-Stroy. After school he formed the legendary Arsonists and he went on to open up/host for X-zibit, Ludacris, The X-ecutioners, Papa Roach, L.L. Cool J, Busta Rhymes and Eminem to name a few. D-Stroy is currently featured on releases by Marco Polo, Q-Unique's, Pro-Sinnerz CD and The Snowgoons "Trojan Horse" LP. He is not a thug, he's an adult. He's not underground or commercial, he is HIP HOP. Perfect for working with a Japanese producer

B - Stay feat Paulie Rhyme

Kaza's beat on this one is a blessed out bit of summer goodness showing he can rock the filtered styles with the best of them. Paulie Rhyme waxes lyrically about his love of hip hop culture, something all true hip hop heads worldwide will recognise from this track forged somewhere between Southern Japan and West Coast USA.

Paulie Rhyme is a Bay Area based; Cleveland bred emcee, giving people music that touches mind, body, spirit, and soul. Putting in work in the indie circuit for a good portion of this decade, Rhyme has worn many hats in the industry before finding his calling in front of the mic.

Infrasonics hits heavy with the next 12" in their highly collectable split EP series. As FACTmagazine put it, "Totally pumped, furious work outs from Kingthing and Jamie Grind herald their first release of 2012, showcasing a high-octane mixture of snarling club sounds as aggressively funky as any Swamp 81 or Fade To Mind material". New signing Kingthing comes correct with two hybrid numbers that build on the garage swagger of his previous outings with a new found focus and intensity and a broadened sonic palette that wraps analogue-style synths within tight digital edits. The intro to 'Waking Up' is rhythmic in fits and starts, as vocal hooks and triplet percussive stabs reciprocate before gradually settling, building a continuity of meter with rising pads leading to a crescendo that drops into a killer, technoid resolution of jacking monosynth leads and arpeggios over a slamming kick. 'Cold Diss' bangs hard from the off. Distilled juke and booty influences seep through the interplay of the vocal phonemes and pitched sub, but the vibe here is original. The accompanying synth, that briefly introduces the track before later resurfacing to guide, has a cold clinical precision and resonance to it that could be forged by SND or Alva Noto. The context is very different though and the resulting symbiosis is a satisfying romp for the peak hour dance Jamie Grind turned the head of many a player with his first drop for Infrasonics on the 'Infra12003 EP' he shared with Gon. Equally, his second pulls no punches. Sonically situated somewhere between Leeds and L.A. he turns in two tracks that weave summer vibes around a propulsive bassline rhythms. 'For You' builds around cut up vocal hooks and woozy stabs before resolving into an infectious, driving 4/4 groove. It breaks briefly, breezy chords switching the atmosphere, before settling back into the bassline groove. 'We Still Play 140' is a different proposition, constructed around an off kilter piano / stab combo and skittering percussion. It's unfamiliar territory but Jamie's ability to settle the listener as the bass and strings give fullness and urgency to the mix and play with the tension and release is a testament to his finely tuned pop sensibilities - man knows how to arrange for devastating impact.

Greek duo Keep Shelly In Athens' first EP for Planet Mu is in keeping with a consistent level of odd synth-pop that the label has released from Tropics to Vezelay, and Heterotic to Solar Bears. They first came to the label's attention with their remix of Solar Bears 'Cub', an awesome re-imagining of the track from SB's 'She Was Coloured In' album. The remix is a monumental slice of cold but blissful synth pop, with stadium-sized reverbs and punched-in repetitive vocals over rumbling guitars and punchy drums. 'The Chains' has all the off-key atmosphere of an Italian horror film soundtrack with the band's female singer intoning a melody that could come from a 'Violator'-era Depeche Mode song. The whole song breaks down towards the end into an intense finale. The EP's title track 'Campus Martius' has a giant humming bassline, with electronic drums scratching away like insects flying at windows, as a gentle piano line ripples over the top painting a feeling of airy pleasure while vocal samples drop a melody at altered pitches in a scene of tentative bliss. Finally, 'Struggle With Yourself' pits Sarah's raw singing over a weird acidic bassline that could easily sound at home on a Coil record along with loose guitar strums, before the track breaks into light spoken word and angelic vocals, finishing off as it started, but with a stark warning.

This young south London production duo caused a huge stir at the start of 2012 with their debut release 'Shake It Off', receiving extensive support from the likes of Jackmaster, Oneman, Actress and many more. Following up quickly with this massive release on new label Dench Recordings, 'Still Feel' is a tantalising percussion-lead dancefloor destroyer, coupled with 'Perforate', a soothing track filled with a catchy staccato melodic lead combined with signature punchy drums that just keep on building. On the remixes, Chaos In The CBD's edit of 'Still Feel' is a great example of the new wave of house music, emanating a hypnotic bouncing rhythm with perfectly juxtaposed vocal samples. Rounding off the EP are C.R.S.T. (Well Rounded, Ten Thousand Yen, No Hats No Hoods) who always deliver the goods, and their remix of 'Perforate' is no exception, based on a rhythmic vocal sample accompanied with a moving, almost haunting synth guaranteed to get your ears' attention. Early support comes from Visionist, Presk, Hackman, Marco del Horno, Last Japan, Blackwax, Benjamin Damage, Whistla, and many more.

Venetian Snares, aka Winnipeg's Aaron Funk, follows up last year's acclaimed 'Cubist Reggae' with another four track EP. In the words of the man himself : "One of these tracks is about my 2 friends. I really love them, they are good people and really great friends. After I recorded the track, I had a vision that they became the same entity, like some kind of human spider hybrid, which I really didn't like as I don't think of them like that at all. The tune is not about that whatsoever but I kept thinking about that for a good 2 or 3 days. It was chilling. See if you can guess which song it is! Another, I wrote using only tweeters so it was hard to make out anything other than hi-hats. Still, it sounds much better than most music that has been recorded. See if you can guess which one it is! There is a track that mainly uses analog devices to control digital devices. It seems laughable that most people want to control their analog synths with midi, imposing their ridiculous choice of notes on the music. They are pretty much rapists. I have enabled these devices to communicate in a mutually respectful, consensual embrace. See if you can guess which track is 100% free of blatant narcissism! The final tune is a ramp, an inclined plane, or a crescendo of sorts in music, stretched out over a number of minutes. It's like a pyramid wall made from every thought you've ever thought of becoming immeasurably more discernible, yet built upon a river of everything you've tried to forget. The river is grey and all thoughts you've ever had are all other colors but mainly maroon and silver. See if you recognize your thoughts in this one!"

London's Stillcold Records return with 'TMRW' / 'No New Jack' from Berlin operator and Lazer Sword member Lando Kal. With 'TMRW', it's all about a deceptive simplicity, driven by soulful, spacious chords, the most buoyant of sub basslines, and fine, effortless vocal edits. This is one of those grooves that will latch onto bodies with the swiftness and exudes all the confidence of a producer hitting his stride. On the flip, 'No New Jack' is a serious call to the more rugged jackers. Maniacal laughter paves way for tough, saturated stabs and a hook that's seen chants flying across dancefloors from Berghain to London. As is always the case with Stillcold, the vinyl is meticulously crafted and mastered for optimal impact, with D&M Berlin's master cutter CGB etched into the run-out groove. For those that know.

This three track EP from the aptly named Dream Continuum is a collaboration between Travis Stewart a.k.a. Machinedrum and Jim Coles a.k.a. Om Unit, who was the mind behind the Philip D Kick 'footwork jungle' tracks in 2011. The meeting came about when Travis and Jim realised they were working in parallel on the same concept of finding the sweet spot between mid-90's euphoric jungle and footwork, so naturally they set about working out how to find it together. The 'Reworkz EP' moves backwards and forwards in time with 'Be Free' treating jungle's diva samples with footwork pitch bending and repetition while adding huge uplifting chords that capture the euphoria of rave perfectly. It's then laid over tough, rolling 808 kicks and snares at 160bpm with a carpet of pumping, rhythmic sub-bass resulting in a new hybrid that is both fresh and energetic. 'Give A Lil Luv' is, if anything, even more euphoric, like rolling thunder with an intense, melodic use of samples and chord stabs with metallic breaks building into a spiky mesh of rhythms. On side B 'Set it' draws classic dancehall, soul and reggae samples across a perfect mix of fast juke cymbals and jungle amens, each part casually camouflaging the other, tempering footwork's sometimes intimidating sparseness and filling it with rich, warm and sincere rave energy.

Four bass heavy, dancefloor-ready tracks by Roel Funcken, who again proves to be a master of technoid, bass heavy and intelligent dance music that defies any genre. 'Fes Bace' is a collection of perhaps his finest, probably his most effective work to date. It shows a man on a mission, reinventing himself constantly after his much acclaimed solo debut 'Vade'. Roel has taken his sound to a whole new level, delivering four tracks of uncompromising quality and diversity that could easily destroy any dancefloor. The EP opens with a Funcken remix of 'Spletch' by Dutch talent Julien Mier, bouncing off into broken rhythms and stroboscopic lazer madness. The second track 'ALH84001' (named after a meteorite from Mars) recalls Meat Beat Manifesto but with a twisted, razor sharp edge, while 'Skinetic Culpture' is a nervy post-electro affair with a Drexciyan touch. Title track 'Fes Bace' is an ultra heavy piece where a halfstep beat grinds through an ultra-low swamp, with spitting vocals.

Airhorn!! After months of technical strife accompainied by much gnashing of teeth, the "missing" Funkystepz 12" is finally in the place and heading your way this week, available to the public's collective sweaty mitts from February 6th. All original pre-orders will be filled, and here's the info again to jog your memory ... Funkystepz return to Hyperdub, their debut 12" 'Fuller' / 'Hurricane Riddim' having detonated dancefloors earlier in 2011. It's rare to find an act who's name describes so functionally what their intention is and how they are going to get there, and their ruff but complex productions and DJ sets are incredible at raising energy and getting bodies moving in a way that so much modern dancefloor music just doesn't. These three tracks are straight up dancefloor destroyers, almost overloaded with energy. 'Trouble' is exactly that; with martial stomping kick drums, whistles, a tough, infectious melody line, and chords like a skidding car, this tune is built to bounce to. 'Dirty Dutch' has structure that breaks down and breaks up again, playing question and answer between a twilight zone style melody, a wiggly, scratched in test-tone, a grime-styled violin melody, and rapid-fire drums and claps. 'John Wayne' is so bow-legged that it almost falls over, made of loose, galloping drums with a backward drunken melody and skippy snares, a hilarious repetition of the words 'John Wayne', a rollin sub, and a spacey breakdown. It's really fun, strangely surreal and massively compelling on the dancefloor.